The making of a Christmas card

Getting a (good) picture of a child is hard enough but definitely gets trickier when there are 2. You can multiply the difficulty by 10 when one of them is a baby or toddler. It was fun though. I think I enjoy the out-takes as much as the keepers so I thought I would share some of them with you.

Still raking leaves in Texas

We thought our leaf raking days were over when we left WV. We had a few really, really big trees in our front and back yards in Vienna and we had piles and piles of leaves to clean up. We thought we could just rake them and bag them but it didn't take long to realize that this was impossible. One day Chris had 19 trash bags lined up at the curb! That barely put a dent in it so, we invested in a leaf blower/vac. That made things much easier but still took a lot of time. In fact, we still had a large pile in the back yard right before we listed our house for sale (that was in April!)

Our pile in Texas was much smaller but I have to tell you that the little sprinkling of leaves has been pretty constant. They all seem to blow right up to our front door. The kids had fun using their little rakes to make a pile (a very modest pile). This was the first time Jaden was able to participate and he jumped right in! Too bad there wasn't enough to actually jump in - he would have loved it.

The first trim

I couldn't take it anymore. When Jaden woke me up this morning at 5:30 a.m. I had some time to really contemplate his "do" while he was watching the Wiggles and everyone else was still sleeping peacefully.

Since it is getting so long it gets kind of matted and sticks straight out when it gets rubbed (like when he's sleeping or riding in his car seat, for example). So, I decided to just trim a little off the ends in the back (the top got a late start so it's more even now). I left it a little crazy because Jaden wouldn't be Jaden if his hair wasn't just a little bit crazy. Plus, I'm aware that I am NOT a hairdresser and didn't even want to try for something more precise. He surely would have ended up with a buzz cut if I tried that. I have been thinking about taking him to a hairdresser but get so anxious even thinking about it. For one, he hates people touching his hair - probably because he get tangles and we have to comb it out. Not fun. And two, he's got this crazy pterodactyl scream that I'm sure would send everyone running out of the salon. This way I could cut a little while he was distracted. Wait. Cut a little more. You get the picture. So far, the curls are still there - thank God!!! I'm just not ready for him to be curl-less (even if Uncle Richie has vowed to take him to get them cut off in December and Daddy tries to brush out the curls after every bath!!)

Little WVU fan

Chris wanted to share these pictures. He dressed Jaden in this WVU outfit to celebrate their victory over Louisville.

Jaden is getting a little harder to take pictures of since he is always in motion. So, the best we could do today to get him to stay even a little still was to lure him into a game of "where are Jaden's body parts". You've got to have lightening fast reflexes to capture him in a good pose. Good thing we like candids!

21 weeks and counting

I'm still not very big but you can at least see that I am making progress and the belly is growing. If I were trying to hide my pregnancy I would have no trouble but since I want a "big 'ol belly" it will take forever! It's amazing to me how well a little growing person fits so nicely inside of my belly without too much disruption.

I had planned to do a better job at documenting the changes that have occurred with this pregnancy since it is (very likely) my last one. I say "very likely" only because I have learned that it is not 100% up to me. I'm not stupid enough to say I'll never have another because then I'll end up with 5 more! We think 3 is a very nice number and we think we can reasonably handle that. But, with 2 other children who demand so much of my time it's much harder than I had thought.

So, I'm 21 weeks pregnant now - soon to be 22. It seems like it has started to go by faster all of a sudden. I started to feel the baby move this time around 16 weeks but this baby doesn't seem to be as vigorous as the other two. The movements haven't been strong enough for Chris to feel even though I notice them regularly now. I think that the baby may have even had hiccups the other night. I'm familar with that rhythmical movement thanks to Jaden. He had hiccups all the time! They didn't stop after he was born either. I'm feeling so much better now than I had during the first trimester. I almost feel "back to normal". I have even started to notice that my house needs cleaned and it bothered me. That's progress believe it or not. There were many months when we lived in a pigsty and I didn't even care. I was just trying to get by until Chris came home so I could sleep. I was sooooo tired! I actually let people into my house looking like that (and I actually looked worse than my house) - which usually would have embarrassed me to no end. I figured, "this is just me right now - take it or leave it. It's the best I can do." I'm not obsessive about it now by any means but I am trying to make sure everyone has clean laundry and there are clean dishes to eat off of!

I am enjoing this pregnancy very much. I'm still hoping to have a big 'ol belly sometime soon! (I know some would call me "crazy" but I love having a big belly!) I am nervous about being able to manage 3 children - 2 under 2! I know many brave moms have managed before me and I will be fine. Still, it's a little daunting. I'm up for the challenge!

Jaden's 15 month (well, 16 month actually) check up

Jaden had his 15 month check up today. I guess it is actually a 16 month check up since we were out of town when his last appointment was scheduled. He is definitely growing and is on track developmentally too. It's such a relief because when you have an early baby you can't help but worry about whether they will catch up or if they will have some difficulties. This guy has been very blessed. He is 34 inches tall and weighs 27 pounds (that's why I'm so tired! But I should be skinner from carrying him around all the time!). The nurse who measured him was training another nurse during our visit. She explained that he was in the 95th percentile and that was considered "above average". I was thinking about how he really should only be 14 months and wondered if they would have had to create a new category to put him in because he's so big! Would he be in the "really above average" category? "Gigantic" category? We're just happy that he's growing and moving along like he should. Now, if he would just start to talk more so he could whine and cry less...

Wonder Woman, Little Pumpkin, and Baby Boo

We were so excited that Anna chose to be Wonder Woman for Halloween. It took a little talking into but she's been all about it for the past 2 weeks. Everyone we pass seems to have a memory of Wonder Woman - especially the women. There was one man who wouldn't stop until he remembered all of the words to the Wonder Woman theme song! If you talk to any one in my family about me and Wonder Woman I'm sure they will quickly recall the year I got Wonder Woman under-roos for my birthday. I apparently had to change my clothes right then and there and proceeded to run/fly around the yard. My Aunt still has it on an old-time video tape.

Grandma Judy actually bought this pumpkin costume 5 years ago when I was pregnant with Anna. I opened up a box from her at my baby shower that was filled with all sorts of baby items and many Halloween costumes from sizes 0-3 months to 18 months. I think they were on clearance! This one still had the tags on it. I'm glad that I saved it and he could use it. He looked so crazy cute! I loved it.

And finally "baby boo" - I thought it would be fun to paint my belly so that baby Tyree #3 could be part of Halloween too. It looks like I painted a regular 'ol belly and not a 20 week pregnant one! I should have taken a picture from the side because from the front it doesn't look like I'm pregnant. I'll have to get Chris to take a picture of me from the side to give a better view.

When I walked out into the kitchen with my belly painted Anna ran right over to look at it. She immediately said, "It says boo". We were excited. Even though it was probably just a "sight word" for her she was able to "read" it. I said, "Anna you can read!" She said, "just a little". It's a small step but it's a start!

The fire ants have attacked my baby!

Grandma Judy has been telling Anna all about the wonderful things Texas has to offer ever since we found out we were moving here. She learned all about mosquitoes, crocodiles/alligators, armadillos, and most of all fire ants! I told Grandma she was going to be in big trouble if Anna started to have nightmares because we didn't have much of a choice about where we were moving to.

Well, this weekend at Anna's soccer game Jaden was introduced to the fire ants. It seems he decided to sit down and play in the grass right on their mound. Poor Jaden was stuck with idiot parents who didn't even realize he was being bitten. He was rolling on his back and lifting up his shirt but he wasn't crying. Chris thought he wanted to play "where is Jaden's belly button?" But, Jaden kept doing his little grunt (he doesn't really say any words yet) and pointing to his back. When Chris turned him over there were fire ants crawling all over his back. He ended with with big red welts that turned into these smaller red bumps with white heads on them kinda like pimples. I've never seen anything like that before. It was gross! He never complained about it or acted like it bothered him. We couldn't believe he didn't cry or scream. He actually fought us more to get his clothes back on after we found the ants. We ended up letting him run around with just a diaper on and his shoes for awhile because he was making such a fuss.

A rare moment captured on film

All of the cuteness of having a baby brother and the adoration 0f having a big sister have started to wear off. We have more days now with Anna screaming at Jaden to scare him away from her stuff or baracading herself in some corner with furniture and whatever else she can get her hands on to keep him at bay. She's been pretty creative, I have to say. Jaden has taken to pushing Anna away when she comes near one of us (lately Mommy seems to be the sought after item - but it changes) while screaming and giving the "dirty look". This usually results in Anna running off to the couch or whatever is soft nearby to throw herself down on while crying (arms in the air and the whole dramatic 9 yards) and wailing "he hurt my feelings".

But today the planets must have been in alignment or something because Jaden went over to Anna to sit on her lap and watch Noggin. He doesn't ever really watch TV but something caught his interest and fortunately Anna was happy to oblige him on her lap. What a nice surprise!

Miss Independent

Anna has become the police officer for "bad" words. Today in the car I noticed a person's name on Chris's soccer sheet. The name was "Shad Skinner". I hadn't heard this name before so, I said it outloud but in a whisper. Anna was quick to point out that she heard me say a "bad" word. I tried to tell her that I didn't say a "bad" word and told her about the name. She wouldn't buy it. "But you whispered it!", she said. Apparently she's noticed that adults sometimes say "bad" words under their breath. I stated my case again. I told her that if I had said a "bad" word I would have apologized because it is not nice to say "bad" words but I really didn't say a "bad" word. She simply said, "I am not wrong". End of story. Ey-yi-yi!

This weekend we were just hanging around and Anna started singing a little song that she made up. I have to say it has the beginnings of a great song. It was basically just two lines repeated over and over. Here are the lyrics: "Listen to your Mom, your Dad is crazy". Apparently, that sentiment was not lasting.

Anna's new word

Anna is venturing out and trying new words. The word of late is "bored" or "boring". It seems to be creeping up a lot lately. I'm afraid the teenage years will be here sooner than I think.
She can give a good example of what "bored" means (e.g., when you go to a class and do the same thing every week it is boring). But sometimes she dosen't use it quite right. Here are some of the examples she's used lately in our conversations.

Me: Anna, why did you take your clip and pony tail holder out of your hair?
Anna: It was boring.

Anna: Mom, I'm just getting bored waiting for Christmas! I want that camera and pony now!

I can't think of the others right now but when they come to me I'll add them to the list. It will be fun for her to read these later!

Mia Elizabeth Pribanic

Warning: this post may be difficult to read. I have given much thought about what to say and whether or not to even write this post. It is hard to write or even think about sad times but they are a part of our lives too. One purpose of this blog is to share some of our life with family and friends who live away from us. The other purpose is to create a record of our life for our children. I want them to know about all of the events that have touched our lives and shaped who we are. This post is particularly relevant because we feel the loss of Lisa and Eric's little Mia has changed us forever too, even though she was not our child. We will probably be a little more cautious with our children, we will hug and kiss them every chance we get, we will thank God more often for the blessings we've been given. We feel so much sympathy for her parents, grandparents, and other friends and family. We can't even begin to imagine what they must be going through. We will always think of her and remember just how precious our time here on earth is.

My cousin Lisa and her husband Eric welcomed their baby girl, Mia Elizabeth Pribanic, into the world on September 29, 2007. Little Mia wasn't due for another 4 weeks but was anxious to get here. She is the only baby that I know of to ever be born on the day of her Mommy's baby shower! Some of the guests were able to stop by the hospital after the shower and say "hello" in person. What a surprise!

Sadly, on October 12th sweet little Mia was taken too suddenly back to heaven. To say that we are all very sad is an understatement. I regret that I wasn't able to meet her in person though I did hear so much about her from her proud Mommy and Grandparents. She was so beautiful and so very, very loved. Even though her time with her family was too short I know that she brought them so much happiness. They were all truely in love with their little girl.

Baby Mia will always be in our hearts and our prayers. Kiss your loved ones and treasure every moment that you are given.

The best part of the day

Jaden's favorite part of the day is going outside to wait for Daddy to come home. He gets so excited sometimes that he runs out into the street. Today Chris met him in the cul-de-sac and let him "drive". He was so cute! He even knows to move the stick shift. This kid doesn't miss a thing! Anna came out to get in the action too. We definitely need a bigger car....

Baby update: I had a 16-week check up today. Everything so far is good. Good blood pressure, heartbeat is 158/min. I haven't gained any weight this time (just 3 pounds so far total) but the doctor isn't worried since I weigh so much to begin with! I assured him that I am eating and taking my vitamins. I didn't gain much weight with either of my other pregnancies and my kids were good sized (for their gestation, anyway). I still have plenty of time left to gain weight and I plan on really enjoying the holidays -especially DiCarlos pizza at my mom's! Megan, we're going to eat it so much you probably will be tired of it after we leave. I can't wait! :)

Jaden has a sweet tooth

During this pregnancy I've sort of had a thing for Kit Kat's. (My sister-in-law has kept me with a steady supply of the Big Kat's from England - they are soo good!) Today I asked Chris to pick some up on his way home. It's a good thing he got a king size because Jaden was determined to have some too! He must have been paying close attention to what was on the table because when we weren't looking he climbed up on the chair and helped himself. He was so happy with himself and so covered with chocolate! I always say that he is so sweet I could just eat him up but I'm sure he's even yummier covered in chocolate :).

She ain't just whistling dixie

well, at least not yet but she's on her way! Anna is so proud that she has learned to whistle. I even heard her in her room last night practicing when she couldn't sleep. :)

You don't realize how hard it is until you try to teach someone else to do it.